To: Board of Supervisors
From: Anna Roth, Health Services Director
Report Title: Extension Agreement #23-765-1 with Public Health Foundation Enterprises, Inc. (dba Heluna Health)
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE and AUTHORIZE the Health Services Director, or designee, to execute Extension Agreement #23-765-1 with Public Health Foundation Enterprises, Inc. (dba Heluna Health), a corporation, to amend Contract #23-765, to extend the termination date from June 30, 2024 to September 30, 2024 to continue providing support for the Health Workforce Ambassador Project with no change in the payment limit of $1,870,475.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Approval of this Extension Agreement will not impact the payment limit of $1,870,475 as budgeted by the department and funded 23% by American Rescue Plan Act and 77% by the Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County. (No rate increase)
BACKGROUND:
On March 10, 2020, the Board of Supervisors requested that the Governor proclaim a State of Emergency in Contra Costa County (Gov. Code Section 8625) due to COVID-19. The Health Department must use all available preventative measures to combat the spread of COVID-19 which includes testing and vaccine administration. The Department must enter into contracts for these services and competitive bidding requirements are suspended to the extent necessary to address the effects of COVID-19.
The Health Workforce Ambassador Program will put previously unemployed individuals from under-served neighborhoods to work promoting COVID-19 vaccine distribution and logistics in their own communities. Program participants, who are primarily people of color, earn immediate income while developing a multitude of marketable and transferable skills, as well as employment experience that serves as an entry point to sustainable careers in the health field.
On July 26, 2022, the Board of Supervisors approved Contract #23-765 with Public Health Foundation Enterprises, Inc. (dba Heluna Health), in an amount not to exceed $1,870,475 to hire project coordinators, community health ambassadors and ambassador community support team members who will promote COVID-19 services and community best practices for safety, primarily for areas that are underserved or experiencing a surge in cases, and assist County in meeting outreach and COVID-19 related service goals, for the period July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2024.
Approval of Extension Agreement #23-765-1 will allow the contractor to continue to provide support for the Health Workforce Ambassador Project through September 30, 2024.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
If this Extension Agreement is not approved, COVID-19 vaccinations and services would be lacking in underserved areas of Contra Costa County.